Golf aid

ABSTRACT

A method of using an aid for practising a golf club swing is described herein, including at least first and second alignment sticks, at least one joining stick, and connector means, wherein the alignment sticks are arranged to extend substantially parallel to one another and such that they are maintained in that relationship by the joining stick and connector means, the first alignment stick is arranged to define a boundary for a golfer&#39;s feet and the golfer is standing behind the first alignment stick facing the second alignment stick, a golf ball is arranged to sit on a notional straight line extending from the second alignment stick wherein such line is parallel to the first alignment stick, the golf ball is arranged so that it is between the second alignment stick and the golf club, the second alignment stick stops short of the golf ball, and the golfer swings at the ball using the second alignment stick as a guide line for swinging the club.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

A preferred form of the invention relates to an aid to assist a golferto learn to align their swing appropriately.

BACKGROUND

Many devices exist for aiding a golfer in their game. There are only somany aspects to the game that a golfer can control. For example, howthey grip their golf club, how they stand in relation to the ball andhow they align their body with respect to a target. A golfer has nocontrol over the ball after they have hit it, or of variables such asthe weather. This makes it all the more important to be set up well.

Golf alignment sticks are one tool for aiding a golfer set up to aball/target and align their golf swing. They are designed to assist thegolfer to learn to stand square to their target. In existing solutions,there may be one alignment stick for setting up the club head/ball andanother for setting up a golfer's feet. The idea is to have feet, knees,hips and shoulders all lined up parallel with one another and, in turn,parallel to the line of the target. Therefore it is desirable foralignment sticks to be as close to parallel as possible. However,existing alignment stick solutions may rely on the user's eye to get thesticks parallel. Or, the alignment sticks may be positioned closertogether in an effort to be more precise, but consequently interferewith the golfer's swing or stance. There exists a need for a golfalignment stick solution that assists in learning good body alignmentwithout undesirably impacting certain other aspects of a golfer's set upor swing.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of preferred embodiments of the invention to go at leastsome way towards addressing the above problem. While this object appliesto preferred embodiments, it should not be seen as a limitation onclaims expressed more broadly. The object of the invention per se issimply to provide the public with a useful choice.

Definitions

The term “comprising” if and when used in this document in relation to acombination of features should not be seen as excluding the option ofadditional unspecified features or steps. In other words the term shouldnot be interpreted in a limiting way.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a method ofusing an aid for practising a golf club swing, the aid comprising:

-   -   at least first and second alignment sticks;    -   at least one joining stick; and    -   connector means;        wherein:    -   the alignment sticks are arranged to extend substantially        parallel to one another and such that they are maintained in        that relationship by the joining stick and connector means;    -   the first alignment stick is arranged to define a boundary for a        golfer's feet and the golfer is standing behind the first        alignment stick facing the second alignment stick;    -   a golf ball is arranged to sit on a notional straight line        extending from the second alignment stick wherein such line is        parallel to the first alignment stick;    -   the golf ball is arranged so that it is between the second        alignment stick and the golf club;    -   the second alignment stick stops short of the golf ball; and    -   the golfer swings at the ball using the second alignment stick        as a guide line for swinging the club.

Optionally the golfer is standing with their feet immediately adjacentto the first alignment stick on the opposite side of that stick to theball.

Optionally the golfer swings a golf club and strikes the ball withoutthe club contacting the second alignment stick.

Optionally the ball is preferably at least 40 cm, at least 50 cm, atleast 60 cm, at least 70 cm, at least 80 cm, at least 90 cm or at least1-1.5 m away from the second alignment stick.

Optionally the connector means comprises a connector which receives atleast one of the alignment sticks and the joining stick, and at leastone of these sticks passes through the connector in an adjustablesliding relationship.

Optionally the connector comprises two apertures, each extending atright angles to one another.

Optionally the connector comprises three or four apertures.

Optionally the connector is able to slide along the joining stick toincrease or decrease the distance between the alignment sticks.

Optionally the connector has limbs that are substantially square,rectangular or rounded in transverse cross section.

Optionally the alignment sticks and the joining stick are collectivelyin a substantially shape.

Optionally the ball is in line with a ball marker stick that extendssubstantially perpendicularly from a first of the alignment sticks.

Optionally the golfer aligns their stance to face the ball withshoulders substantially parallel with the alignment sticks beforeswinging at the ball.

Optionally the method includes the step of sliding the connector meansalong the joining stick to increase or decrease the distance between thealignment sticks and therefore the distance between where the golferplaces the ball and sets their feet.

DRAWINGS

Some preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described by wayof example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view illustrating a golf swing aid;

FIG. 2 is a close-up view illustrating two connectors forming part ofthe aid;

FIG. 3 illustrates a golfer using the swing aid.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIG. 1, the golf swing aid 1 is for assisting a golfer toalign their body and swing with respect to a ball and target. The aid 1comprises two alignment sticks 2 that extend substantially in parallel,a joining stick 3 extending between them (in this case perpendicularly),a plurality of connectors 4, a ball marker stick 5 and golf ball 6.

Parallel alignment of the sticks 2 is achieved by way of connectors 4, apreferred embodiment of which is shown more clearly in FIG. 2. In thiscase the connectors 4 are ‘T’ shaped and have apertures that allow thealignment and joining sticks 2,3 to pass through the connectors. Inalternative embodiments the connectors may be other than ‘T’ shaped.

The connectors 4 may each comprise two, three, or four apertures. Forexample there may be adjoining apertures either end of the cross pieceof the ‘T’ shape so that one or other of the sticks can pass completelythrough that cross piece. And there may be adjoining apertures eitherend of the main stem of the ‘T’ shape so that one or other of the stickscan pass completely through that stem. This enables the connectors 4 tobe slid along the sticks 2, 3 to a desired position. Preferably, thelimbs of the connectors 4 are substantially quadrilateral or rounded intransverse cross section, but in other embodiments alternativecross-sectional shapes may be adopted.

The connectors 4 of FIG. 2 each comprise three apertures, and the limbsof the ‘T’ are each substantially square in transverse cross-section. Inthis case two of the apertures are aligned to enable one or other of thesticks 2, 3 to adjustably slide through them, and the third of theapertures is at right angles to the others and can receive another ofthe sticks that is not able to pass completely through the connector. Asillustrated, the connectors enable sticks 2, 3 to be securely held endto end (in a line) or at right angles to one another.

Referring again to FIG. 1, by using just two connectors 4, a joiningstick 3 may be secured substantially perpendicularly between twoalignment sticks 2. The apertures of the connectors 4 are such that thealignment sticks 2 are held in parallel relationship. Whilst this is thepreferred arrangement, alternative configurations of connectors 4 andjoining stick 3 are possible. For example, one limb of the connector 4may be at 45 degrees with respect to its other limb. Two such connectorscan engage with the joining stick 3 so that the joining stick extendsother than perpendicularly between the alignment sticks 2, butnonetheless holds the alignment sticks parallel to one another.

With reference to FIG. 3, a golfer stands with feet on the outside ofone of the alignment sticks 2 a and the ball 6 is aligned with the otheralignment stick 2 b. In a sense the ball sits on a notional line that isan imaginary extension of the stick 2 b. The golfer uses the ball markerstick 5, adjustably/slidingly secured to the alignment stick 2 a by wayof a ‘T’ shaped connector 4, to mark where the ball 6 should bepositioned along the notional line.

Because the sticks 2, 3, 5 are engaged with one another by the ‘T’shaped connectors 4, they can be adjusted relative to each otherdepending on the height of the golfer or the type of club the golfer ispractising with. For example for a shorter golfer the parallel alignmentsticks 2 a, 2 b may be closer together than for taller golfers. And fora long range driver club the ball 6 may be further along the notionalline, ie further away from the alignment stick 2 b, than for a short ormedium range iron, etc.

As also shown in FIG. 3, the alignment and joining sticks 2 a, 2 b and 3are generally in a

shape. This means there is plenty of space between the ball 6 and thealignment stick 2 b. The space enables the golfer to swing at the ball 6and hit it without interference from the alignment stick 2 b. Forexample the ball 6 may be at least 40 cm, at least 50 cm, at least 60cm, at least 70 cm, at least 80 cm, at least 90 cm or at least 1-1.5 mfrom the closest end of the alignment stick 2 b. The desired distancecan be achieved by adjustably sliding the alignment stick 2 b throughits connector 4 to effectively increase or decrease the gap between thestick 2 b and the ball 6. The appropriate gap may vary depending on thepreferences of the golfer and/or the particular club they are using.

Preferably, the golfer uses the aid 1 to practice setting up correctlyto the ball 6. For example the golfer concentrates on having his hipsand/or shoulders parallel to the alignment sticks before taking the clubback for a forward swing, while at the same time keeping his feetimmediately behind the closest alignment stick 2 a. The golfer uses thefurthest alignment stick 2 b as a guide to avoid swinging the clubbeyond the far side of that stick 2 b, eg to avoid swinging ‘over thetop’ or ‘out of the plane of the ball’ as the club approaches the ball 6for contact. Swinging ‘over the top’ or past the plane of the ball onthe downward swing can cause an undesirable slice shot. But swinging toofar inside the plane of the ball 6 can also cause problems where theball, when struck, fails to fly in the intended line to the target. Atset up the ball marker stick 5 enables the golfer to more easily judgewhere the ball 6 is in relation to his feet. For some clubs the golfermay want the ball 6 mid-way between his feet and for others more forwardor backward than that.

In terms of disclosure, this document hereby discloses each item,feature or step mentioned herein in combination with one or more of anyof the other item, feature or step disclosed herein, in each caseregardless of whether such combination is claimed.

While some preferred embodiments of the invention have been described byway of example it should be appreciated that modifications andimprovements can occur without departing from the scope of the followingclaims.

1. A method of using an aid for practising a golf club swing, the aidcomprising: at least first and second alignment sticks; at least onejoining stick; and connector means; wherein: the alignment sticks arearranged to extend substantially parallel to one another and such thatthey are maintained in that relationship by the joining stick andconnector means; the first alignment stick is arranged to define aboundary for a golfer's feet and the golfer is standing behind the firstalignment stick facing the second alignment stick; a golf ball isarranged to sit on a notional straight line extending from the secondalignment stick wherein such line is parallel to the first alignmentstick; the golf ball is arranged so that it is between the secondalignment stick and the golf club; the second alignment stick stopsshort of the golf ball; and the golfer swings at the ball using thesecond alignment stick as a guide line for swinging the club.
 2. Amethod according to claim 1, wherein the golfer is standing with theirfeet immediately adjacent to the first alignment stick on the oppositeside of that stick to the ball.
 3. A method according to claim 1,wherein the golfer swings the golf club and strikes the ball without theclub contacting the second alignment stick.
 4. A method according toclaim 1, wherein a distance the ball is away from the second alignmentstick is chosen from the group consisting of at least 40 cm, at least 50cm, at least 60 cm, at least 70 cm, at least 80 cm, at least 90 cm, andat least 1-1.5 m.
 5. A method according to claim 1, wherein theconnector means comprises a connector which receives at least one of thealignment sticks and the joining stick, and at least one of these stickspasses through the connector in an adjustable sliding relationship.
 6. Amethod according to claim 5, wherein the connector comprises twoapertures, each extending at right angles to one another.
 7. A methodaccording to claim 6, wherein the connector comprises three or fourapertures.
 8. A method according to claim 5, wherein the connector isable to slide along the joining stick to increase or decrease thedistance between the alignment sticks.
 9. A method according to claim 5,wherein the connector has limbs that are substantially square,rectangular or rounded in transverse cross section.
 10. A methodaccording to claim 1, wherein the alignment sticks and the joining stickare collectively in a substantially

shape.
 11. A method according to claim 1, wherein the ball is in linewith a ball marker stick that extends substantially perpendicularly froma first of the alignment sticks.
 12. A method according to claim 1,where the golfer aligns their stance to face the ball with shoulderssubstantially parallel with the alignment sticks before swinging at theball.
 13. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the stepof sliding the connector means along the joining stick to increase ordecrease the distance between the alignment sticks and therefore thedistance between where the golfer places the ball and sets their feet.